Judge Daniel Crabtree said the Kansas law violated the Constitution's protections for free speech. Americans have the right to participate in a boycott, he said, "like the one punished by the Kansas law."

Koontz, a Mennonite, began boycotting Israel businesses last year. She was motivated after seeing a presentation about conditions in Israel and Palestine.

Mennonite Church

The Mennonite Church passed a resolution calling on members to take steps to redress injustice and violence in the Israel-Palestine region. Koontz decided not to buy any products or services from Israeli companies.

Then in July, a program director asked her to sign the certification required by the Kansas law. The director said Koontz could not be paid unless she signed.

Crabtree said the law -- Kan. Stat. Ann. Section 75-3740f -- was unconstitutional. He enjoined the law and "any other Kansas statute, law, policy, or practice that requires independent contractors to declare that they are not participating in a boycott of Israel."

The court also ordered the parties to meet and confer to discuss scheduling for the remainder of the case.

Categories:

About U.S. Tenth Circuit

U.S. Tenth Circuit features news and information from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which hears appeals from U.S. District Courts in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. This blog also features news that would be of interest to legal professionals practicing in the 10th Circuit. Have a comment or tip? Write to us.